The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-11
BO'SUN BEN.
one or the Alabama's Crew Describes
One of the Greatest of Naval Battles.

]
seen again, 80 long as the navy holds to
the milk and water chaps who now cut
their capers in Washington.
The place where an Examiner reporter
listened 10 these words was a gruesofne
one, and almost the last spot ON earth
where one would expect to hear deeds Of
valor boosted Of The person who uttered
them was an old man upon whose face,
now deeply scanned by the ravages OF
time, appeared numerous cuts and
bruises, contracted by coming in con-
tact with hard objects while the
owner OF the face was strug-
Cling in the throes OF epileptic fits, to
which awful malady he is victim. The
speaker'sname was Benjamin p Mecaskey,
and the place in which he was encountered
was the labratOry OF the city and county
alms-housc, of which institution he has
been an inmate during the past two years,
and the chances for him ever leaving il
are very slim.
When the news OF the destruction OF the
Confederate privateer Alabama, off the
coast OF France, in 1864, reached the Unit
ed States, Alecaskey's name was in every
body's mouth, he being the boatswain OF
the illfated ship, whose bravery on that
occasion sent his fame around the world.
Great difficulty has heretofore been expe-
rlenced in getting an accurate account OF
that great naval battle, and information
having reached the Examiner that q par
ticipant in IL was dependent on the city
Tor his bread, reporter was dispatched to
the alms-house TO get his story OF the fight.
IT WAS A GREAT BATTLE.
dyes, il was great battle" continued
the old sea dog, after his heart had been
warmed by generous donotion of tobac-
co. OF which luxury he is very fond. On
June 10, 1864, the Alabama, Cap'n
Semmcs commanding, was lying in Cher
bourg harbor, she having put in there for
provisions. For many days we'd been
lodging in and out along the coast
Of France, trying to get away
from the United States man-of-war
KeaHagc, commanded by Capt. John
Winslow, which craft, we knew, was only
waiting TO get n shot at us. Aboard the
Alabama was q mixed crew Of the greatest
fighting devils you ever laid eyes on.
There were men from ev'ry country on
EARTH aud ev'ry mothers son OF them had
gone into the war for the sake OF the money
they expected 10 make in ransoms and
prizes. ! shipped on board OF her for the
sake OF the prize money, and because
didn't think the Niger was as good as the
white man.
Az UNwELcoME CALLER.
"Wcll, rs / said aiore, we was lying in
| ChcrbOurg harbor ON June 10, not expect
| ing any danger, when, all Of suddint,
! what did We see but the Yankee steaming
in by the south entrance. She never
stopped or made emmy sign, but came right
| past Us and went out by the north en-
/ trance, the reason for this bein' that IL she
had dropped her anchor the law OF nations
would have made her stay in port. and, in
the meantime the Alabama would have
| got up steam, sneaked out and es-
| capped. llowsomcycr, she didn't fool
Cap'n Scmmes, who, knowing that she
was a waiting ontsidc for NJ, and seeing
| that he would have 20 fight or stay in
/ Chctbourg all his life, sent his old school
mate, Cap'n Winslow, OF the kcanagc, u
! note. saying that he was a coming 10 have
| II out Cap'n Ninslow didn't send moth.
! ing back, 40 in few houH We went out
to meet the kcanagc, followed by the
steam Yacht Decrhound, own by the I'm.
! glishman who built the Alabama, and
! whose name was Lancaster. The French
ironolad C0urpnhe also followed u out 10
see the fight
SOMETHING rnE NATTER wfru THE RrDprR.
"As soon ~ We got outside we saw the
| kcaragc making oil shore TO get outside
/ the one mile limit and a. soon ~ We had
done the same We opened FIRE on her, but
/ our shot didn't DO mach harm, because
| the Yankees had projected her sides with
| chain amor OF old cable. Cap'n Winslow
then fired on ~. an We came within 900
/ yards Of each other, broidsidc 10 broad
side. l was nj the wheel, and Cap'n
Semmcs, seeing that q broldsidc from the
kcanagc would rake us fore and aft, or
dcrcd me 10 swcryc the Alabama around.
The cap'n was in the riggin and First
Lieut. Hell passed the order tn me.
jammcd the wheel down a. hard ~ I knew
| how, but she wouldn't come around, 40
| wells out 10 Lieut.. kcll, There's some
thing the matter with the ruddcr. The
cnemy's n going to rake ~, and II she does
she II kill MI hands, but | don't care; I'd
Just rs lief die now ~ not Then Lieut.
! kcll yclls back. You don't carer Not a
d, | hollcs. Then lei her rake,
yclls he; neither 10 L.
TuE oVLY CAPTIVE.
81 dropped the wheel at this. bnt Can't.
lcmmcs Nrcing that something wns up
/ with the uddcr, gave orlcn, to lower q
boat aud try To work the rudder, from
| below, AMI then hcholloWcd 10 haul down
the Confederate flag. which We had run up
in place OF the English DAG we hal hoisicd
In Cherboug hnrbor. 'Ay, ay,' Wells.
and hauling down the colors threw 'cm
ON deck, aud says, There We ar"
"Just then the kcanslgc gave M the
broadsids, and put such a big hole in NJ
that We bcgnn to sink. Boats were
lowered an The crew hoppcd IN, that h, al
but me. as |, being q good swimmer, was
orlcr'd 20 STAY behind with the wounded
until She sank. The crew In the boats
made tot the pccrhound, with the Rear.
sagc alter them. but they got aboard the
/ Yacht, which started ut once for the
English coast, and succeeded In
| landing the men IN safety
stayed with the Alabama until she sank,
when was picked up by the koauagc
and, being the only prisoner, was taken to
] Fort Warren. IN Boston. whcro they kept
me until after the war. Il was accident
that won the Fight for the Yankee. n our
mon had boarded her we'd have whipped
her Our men werc bound 90 fight
NJ they thought that II they were
taken prisoners they'd al bc hung
I WINS treated well ON the kcaniagr; the
| officers let me mess with them. aud the
! only trouble had was with lubbcr, who
/ said We made a poor hghi, Tor which
knocked him down, an Cap'n Winslow
| said / did right Thirteen OF the klsbsma's
crew wcrc killed and don't know how
many were wounded. The koarsagc only
| 4. IL